Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reviews preliminary Great Northern Commerce Park plat, raises accessibility and mid‑block crossing concerns
Summary
Staff presented a preliminary industrial subdivision north of the airport; committee members asked staff to press for sidewalks, curb ramps, and a mid‑block crossing and agreed to place a recommendation action item on a future agenda.
Sandpoint staff presented the preliminary plat for the proposed Great Northern Commerce Park subdivision and committee members raised questions about sidewalks, curb ramps and mid‑block pedestrian access across Woodland.
City Engineer Brandon Steglen said the application is in staff review and that if the preliminary plat receives approval from the planning and zoning commission and council, the developer will be required to construct public infrastructure — roads, utilities and stormwater — and then return the final plat for council approval. The site sits north of Sandpoint Airport and is zoned Industrial General; Steglen noted portions are within the airport runway protection overlay and that land use restrictions limit residential uses in those zones.
Committee members asked whether sidewalks and curb ramps would be required along the new public street. Steglen said code requires constructing a typical city street (including sidewalks) unless the public works director grants an exception: "So this what they're calling for now a street, the North South Street, it'll be named something different. That will be public right of way. And our code says that when you have to build we build a public right of way, you gotta build a typical city street unless the public works director gives you, you know, says otherwise. So they're gonna have sidewalk on both sides." He also said staff will likely press for a mid‑block crossing because block length rules recommend crossings for long blocks.
Members expressed concern that the proposed new street would create two closely spaced T‑intersections with no curb ramp linking sidewalks on the east end of the new frontage; they suggested the development review subcommittee draft a recommended motion asking staff and the developer to provide curb ramps and consider a mid‑block crossing at Woodland. The committee agreed to target that recommendation as an action item at the next meeting so the committee can vote and forward its recommendation to planning staff and the mayor.
